Buenos Aires Street Style Autumn 2016: Palermo

5th May 2016
Bala Chambers

In our Buenos Aires Street Style series we visit different areas of the city, speaking to stylish locals about their outfits and fashion tastes. We start this season’s series in the ‘too-trendy-to-fail’ neighbourhood of Palermo. (All photos by Camille Ayral)

Facundo Cruzebala

Facundo Cruzebala

Age: 28

What do you do? Designer

Where are you from? Buenos Aires

What are you wearing today?

My look is a bit difficult to define today. I don’t have a defined ‘look’ – it depends on the day and on my mental state.

I’m always inspired by street art styles. I put on the most comfortable and beautiful clothing I have when i get dressed.

The sweater I have on today is from H&M, while the coat is a from a local Chinese clothing store.

What do you think about fashion in Buenos Aires?

It’s not that well exploited. Overall there are more styles to be found in Sao Paulo and other places in the world.

That said, Argentines of my age tend to know quite a bit around fashion, at least those of my own generation. Masculine styles are a little more developed nowadays, it wasn’t the case before. The typical Argentine male dresses much better now than before.

It’s a bit trickier in terms of fashion for women, there’s more places to shop, markets etc…There’s more styles which get copied in terms of their fashion for women. Argentine brands copy those brands from abroad.

Typically new clothing tends to arrive here out of season, as usually there is a seasonal difference between here and abroad.

I really like to follow the fashion trends, the European style, the London look. I’m a drag queen, and I consider myself a fashionista.

Drag queens transform themselves into women to perform in a comical show or to dance at an event – I exploit the female image for my role.

Usually I work as a model, dancer and I use make-up.

I brought back this jacket from Italy, which was a gift from my Italian boyfriend. I was with him for a bit in Florence.

What do you think about fashion in Buenos Aires?

I think it’s still a bit lacking overall. It’s not that advanced. I still view the style on the street as a bit odd.

During Fashion Week, for example, you find very extravagant looking people, very avant-garde people who really follow fashion. That’s what’s missing here in general.

It takes time for something to take root here in terms of fashion. When someone begins to use a certain look, then everyone else starts using it too. In Europe fashion styles take root much more quickly… here everything fashion-wise is much slower to start up.

Do you have any favourite designers or brands of clothing?

I like Jeremy Scott, a designer who worked for Adidas Originals and Kino. I really like him… he influenced high fashion with his Adidas Originals designs (shoes) which resulted in these catwalk styles reaching normal people, who in turn could buy them in regular shoe shops.

Stela Šmahlíková

Stela Šmahlíková

Age: 21

What do you do? Student of international economic relations

Where are you from? Czech Republic

What are you wearing today?

Today I’m wearing an office look, but maybe also one suitable for a party, as my shirt has crystal details..It’s a bit more fancy than a traditional office look.”

I brought my shirt in Italy, which has good designers. It’s from Via della Perle, an unknown brand from Milan. They make really good designer clothes and they have discounts.

My handbag is only a Zara, my sunglasses are an Italian brand, Prada. I purchased them in Madrid Airport.

The friendship-bracelet is from New Zealand, an old man gave it to me. It’s for good luck.”

What do you think about fashion in Buenos Aires?

In Buenos Aires it’s really distinctive, there’s lots of different kinds of people…I read there are only two classes – it seems to me there is not a middle class here, there’s upper middle class, then there’s very poor people.

Richer people here have mainly a summer fashion look, lot’s of big platforms, more of an urban look. For men it’s still an urban look but women dress better.